Stillingfleet Family History

from Stillingfleet (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Steflingefled in 1086. The place-name means ‘the stretch of river of the people of a man called Styfel’ from the Old English personal name *Stȳfel.

It also incorporates the Old English group-name suffix -ingas (genitive -inga-), which denotes a community or group belonging to a particular ancestral figure.

Additionally, the term flēot refers to ‘estuary, inlet, or creek,’ indicating the geographical features associated with the location.

Thus, the name reflects both the personal origins of the community and its proximity to water, highlighting the importance of rivers in early English settlements.

Overall, the etymology of Stillingfleet provides insight into the cultural and geographical landscape of the area during the 11th century.